Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-10-11

ble-and hard kitchen chairs looked strangely
incongruous beside the handsome curtains
and cornices- A skeleton and collection OF
miscellaneous anatomical fragments were
generously contributed by sympathizers,
and scattered about the room in
studied disorder These disjecta membra did
not mend matters much only giving an air OF
wilder barbarism to the apartment. They
succeeded, at any rate in conveying the idea
that its occupant was not merely savage but
a cannibal. On second thoughts Percy hud-
died all these trophies also into the bedroom;
and then, first anxiously scrutinizing the scene
to see that no detail of power to shock or
scandalize the ladies' feelings had been allowed
to survive, he started off, full of forebodings,
to fetch Pulsatilla and her mother.
1t was with wildly palpitating heart that
he drew forth his latchkey and fumbled at the
keyhole He was 50 long in getting the door
open that Pulsatilla was struck by his odd be
haviour.
as anything the matter, Percyf' she wills
pered anxiously; "you don't look we'll"
His looks did not belle his feelings, it
seemed He longed to make clean breast of
it, but the presence of Lady Bastwick made
that impossible There was nothing left for
him but to keep up his amiable deception.
"The fact is, was kept up deuced late last
night" be said; ''tho standard Of these horrid
exams is getting higher every year, and
there is no keeping up to Il unless fellow
works more than he ought, you know. One
can't help feeling just little out of sorts now
and then, but shall be all right presently"
As he made this sanguine prediction he
ushered the two ladies into his room. A look
of relief appeared upon his face as he saw
that il still remained as he had left it. The
horrid thought had flashed across his mind
that some practical joker might have stepped
in to arrange surprise for him on his return.
But this proved to have been a baseless chin
era; not even the folding doors which led into
the bedroom had been touched, but faithfully
continued to guard the oak and mahogany
secrets of the inner chamber.
Under these favorable circumstances
Percy's spirits grew once more buoyant. He
ordered tea, a beverage he personally lie;
tested, on purpose for Pulsatilla to enjoy the
treat of dispensing it from his tea pot This
was another small fiction; the tea pot was
purloined for the occasion from the cupboard
OF another gentleman down stairs percy
lived on the first floor who happened to bt
out of town. 1t was an unusually gorgeous
utensil and was decorated with the owner.
crest and arms.
whats this, Percy!" inquired his pros
pective mother in law, examining the ties
pot through her glasses; I'VE have never
asked you about your coat of arms-o
course we simple folks care nothing
about such worldly matters-but
must confess it was too modes
of you, my dear boy, never to breathe wore
about it yourself. Why, its perfectly lovely
| Let me see, now; what do you call thes
things! Dear me, how stupid of me to forget
| to be sure" and she pointed to certain mys
FERROUS marks on the escutcheon, which nigh
have been hieroglyphS or cabalistic signs 70
all the poor young man knew.
He almost choked, but Pulsatilla was look
ing straight at him, and he felt that sh
would not enjoy the tea half so well unles
her mothers question was answered. So
pulled himself together, rejecting that in al
probability Lady Bastwick's knowledge Q
heraldry was on par with his own, and It
piled with a slight-a very slight-tremor il
his voice: Il believe they're called gules, bu
Pm not sure"
"Of course they are,n cried Lady Bastwick
delighted to discover a fresh bond of sympa
thy between Percy and herself; you must nc
forget to let papa know that she added
turning toward her daughter; ''he will thin
ever SO much more of Percy when he know
that he has got gules to his name.h
Percy's spirits at these words descende
into his patent leather boots, for somethin
told him that the news would operate in d
rectly opposite manner upon the absent bal
onet.
"And what is the mottof" asked Pusatilla
pausing suddenly in the act of poul
ing out the tea 81 do love mottoes, especial
Some new ones have a dreadfully artifcis
ring about them-don't you think so, Percy
"Oh, yes, 1 suppose so" replied the baG
gered youth; "but our motto, though {
course it's very old, is not very good on'
it's rather commonplace; in fact, | thin
you'll be rather disappointed with it Pc
haps I'd better not tell you at all"
"Oh, yes; come now, you must tell it. -
"Well, then, he said with desperate coo
ness, tits merely Nux vomica ad nauseam
He scarcely knew how his words came, fC
he was not celebrated as a Latin scholar, an
had never even fancied himself an eligib
candidate for academic distinction in that d.
partment of learning. However, it SCENE
that the mother of invention had for ono
prompted him with considerable success
Percy thanked his stars that Providence ha
prevented Sir Ebenezer from accompanyin
his family.
"Well, how do you like it, Pulsatilla!n
inquired nervously.
Il think it's splendid, she replied, CLOWN
with pride in her lovers scholastic attain
ments. For it is not every doctor WI
knows what his prescriptions mean," 81
thought to herself. But what does it meal
PercyP she went on.
"Well, you see, it's one of those things tn;
can't be translated literally" he replied-l
had already forgotten what the motto was
freely rendered, it means, Call spade
spade;' that's about as near as can get to
for you"
And an excellent motto it is, too" e,
claimed Lady Bastwick; "a good sound, pra
teal MAXIM
gazing critically at the curtains; "why, yc
must have spent lot on these curtain
they're perfectly lovely and SO good; ju
feel, she added, as Lady Bastwick advance
to inspect them.
"They are indeed, was that lady's corro
orative comment; Il only wish Sir Ebenez'
would let me have some like them for Il
drawing room at the hall May ask VIII
you paid for them, Percya How thoughtle
of you not to have spent the money on a fe
comfortable chairs!"
Pulsatilla and her mother were certain
providing some splendid opportunities f.
the exhibition or Percy's ready wit. Cou
they have known what an unmitigated nj
sance their kindly interest was to himl b
the painful discovery was not to be yet.
ats rather funny you should have notic'
those curtains" he stammered. "You see
had to begin furnishing gradually, al
thought it best to begin with them becau
they were going so cheap-only ninepen
halfpenny a yard at the stores-not b,
bargain, eh!" and he paused defiantly.
"NIrepence halfpennyl Extraordinary
murmured Lady Bastwick; II must go al
order several pairs at once ii that is the case
"Ah, YOU can't do that" struck in Perc
pale with terror at the idea; "these were on
old remnants, you know, and there's not
scrap more left; you would have to pay t,
times the price for anything like them no.
But you can have these, if you like; I'll maj
you present of them"
"By no MEANS said Lady Bastwick, d
cisively, turning round and STOPPING iowa
the door.
Il see you're looking at the carpet" co
tinued the wretched Percy, who had shrul
from the idea of taking it up; mice one, isl
itl Yes. Turkey, they tell me. Yes, but i